American Astronomical Society
A United States-based professional society that advances astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, space science, and related fields.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is a professional scientific society headquartered in Washington, D.C., serving astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists, space scientists, educators, students, engineers, historians, and other researchers whose work is connected with astronomy. Its central purpose is to promote the advancement of astronomy and closely related sciences. It also supports astronomy education, professional development, public communication, scientific publishing, recognition of achievement, and policy engagement on issues affecting research and the broader astronomical community. The society was established in 1899 through the efforts of George Ellery Hale. Its original constitutional framework was prepared by Hale, George Comstock, Edward Morley, Simon Newcomb, and Edward Charles Pickering. Newcomb became the first president, and the organization began with 114 members. It initially operated under an interim name associated with astronomy and astrophysics; the name American Astronomical Society was adopted in 1915. This evolution reflected the widening scope of astronomical research, which increasingly incorporated physics, mathematics, planetary science, instrumentation, computation, and other disciplines. AAS functions as a membership organization rather than a commercial brand. It provides professional communities, conferences, journals, awards, grants, educational resources, advocacy, and networking opportunities. Its annual meeting is one of the largest gatherings of professional astronomers, attracting more than 3,000 participants in a recent meeting. By 2025, the society had approximately 8,200 members and affiliates across multiple categories, including full members, graduate and undergraduate students, international affiliates, amateur affiliates, and alumni affiliates. The membership structure was broadened in 2018 to accommodate a wider range of educational backgrounds and career paths. The society's work is organized partly through specialized divisions. These include the Division for Planetary Sciences, Division on Dynamical Astronomy, High Energy Astrophysics Division, Solar Physics Division, Historical Astronomy Division, and Laboratory Astrophysics Division. The divisions organize meetings, promote research communities, administer awards, and represent distinct areas of astronomical science while remaining part of the larger AAS structure. Publishing is a major part of the AAS's institutional role. Its publishing portfolio includes The Astronomical Journal, The Astrophysical Journal, The Planetary Science Journal, the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Research Notes of the AAS, and AAS Nova. The society has also been associated with Astronomy Education Review, which is no longer published. In 2019, AAS announced that it would become the publisher of Sky & Telescope, expanding its public-facing and enthusiast-oriented publishing activities. In 2020, it acquired inventory, author contracts, and related assets from Willmann-Bell, a publisher known for astronomical books, atlases, and software. AAS recognizes achievement through prizes, lectureships, fellowships, student awards, travel support, and division-level honors. Its AAS Fellows program was launched in 2019, with an inaugural group that included 232 Legacy Fellows. The society also supports international travel grants and educational initiatives. Its policy role includes lobbying and grassroots engagement on matters relevant to science funding, research infrastructure, space policy, education, and the professional health of astronomy. The society presents itself as a diverse and inclusive astronomical community seeking to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe. In January 2025, it issued a statement calling for nations to prohibit space advertising visible from the ground, reflecting concern about commercial payloads that could interfere with astronomical observation or alter the night sky. The AAS remains an active scientific association with a primarily North American base and an international membership and publishing reach.
History
The American Astronomical Society was founded in 1899 during a period when astronomy in the United States was developing from a relatively small observatory-centered discipline into a more formally organized scientific profession. George Ellery Hale was a principal force behind the organization's creation. The founding constitutional work involved Hale, George Comstock, Edward Morley, Simon Newcomb, and Edward Charles Pickering. These founders, together with four additional early leaders, formed the society's first Executive Council. Simon Newcomb served as its first president, and the initial membership numbered 114. The organization did not immediately settle on the name by which it is known today. It was associated first with proposed and interim names emphasizing astronomy and astrophysics. The title American Astronomical Society was finally adopted in 1915. The change accompanied the growing integration of observational astronomy, astrophysics, mathematics, instrumentation, and related physical sciences. Over the twentieth century, AAS developed into the principal professional society for astronomers in North America. It expanded its meetings, publications, awards, advocacy, and educational work while maintaining a broad definition of the astronomical sciences. Its members came to include not only astronomers but also physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, historians, educators, and other specialists whose research or professional activities concerned the universe and space science. The society created specialist divisions as the field diversified. The Division for Planetary Sciences was established in 1968. The Division on Dynamical Astronomy and the High Energy Astrophysics Division were formed in 1969, followed by the Solar Physics Division in the same period. The Historical Astronomy Division was established in 1980, and the Laboratory Astrophysics Division was added in 2012. These divisions provide focused communities for research areas ranging from planetary exploration and solar physics to the dynamics of astronomical systems, high-energy phenomena, historical records, and laboratory measurements of astrophysical processes. AAS also built a substantial scholarly communications program. Its publication activities include The Astronomical Journal, The Astrophysical Journal, the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Research Notes of the AAS, and The Planetary Science Journal. AAS Nova provides online summaries and highlights of work appearing in the society's research journals. Astronomy Education Review was part of the society's publication history but is no longer published. In 2019, the society announced that it would become the publisher of Sky & Telescope. In 2020, it acquired the inventory, author contracts, and related assets of Willmann-Bell, extending its publishing presence into books, atlases, and astronomy software. Membership policies evolved as the profession and its participation base broadened. In 2018, AAS restructured its membership classes, expanded eligibility, recognized master's-level pathways, and introduced additional affiliate categories. The modern structure includes full members, graduate and undergraduate student members, international affiliates, amateur affiliates, and alumni affiliates. The society reported approximately 8,200 members across its categories by 2025 and maintains an international orientation despite its United States base. Recognition and professional service became another enduring part of AAS activity. Its awards and lectureships cover lifetime achievement, early-career research, theoretical and observational astronomy, instrumentation, education, writing, service, and student work. The AAS Fellows program was launched in 2019, with 232 Legacy Fellows in its inaugural class and subsequent annual elections. The society also administers travel support and smaller grants intended to help astronomers participate in international scientific meetings. In addition to scientific and educational work, AAS acts as a policy voice for its members. It uses lobbying and grassroots activities to represent astronomy and allied sciences in public-policy discussions. Its January 2025 statement opposing advertising visible from the ground from space illustrates the society's engagement with emerging space-commercialization questions. Today, AAS remains an active professional association, publisher, convenor, award administrator, and advocate for a diverse and inclusive astronomical community.
- 2025
Statement on visible space advertising
[2]AAS urged governments to prohibit space advertising that would be visible from the ground.
- 2020
Willmann-Bell assets acquired
[1]AAS acquired selected publishing assets from Willmann-Bell, including inventory and author contracts.
- 2019
AAS Fellows program launched
[1]The society established a fellows program recognizing exceptional accomplishment and service; the first class included 232 Legacy Fellows.
- 2019
Sky & Telescope publishing announced
[1]AAS announced that it would become the publisher of Sky & Telescope.
- 2018
Membership structure broadened
[1]AAS revised membership categories, widened eligibility, and introduced additional affiliate pathways.
- 2012
Laboratory Astrophysics Division established
[1]The new division promoted experimental and theoretical research into the fundamental processes underlying astronomical phenomena.
- 1980
Historical Astronomy Division established
[1]AAS created a division dedicated to the history of astronomy and the use of historical observations in astronomical research.
- 1969
Dynamical Astronomy, High Energy Astrophysics, and Solar Physics divisions established
[1]The society added divisions covering astronomical-system dynamics, high-energy astrophysics, and solar physics.
- 1968
Division for Planetary Sciences established
[1]AAS created a specialist division focused on planetology and exploration of the Solar System.
- 1915
American Astronomical Society name adopted
[1]After operating under earlier astronomy-and-astrophysics names, the society formally adopted the American Astronomical Society title.
Products and positioning
A leading professional association and scholarly publishing organization for astronomy and allied space sciences, combining research communication, scientific community-building, recognition, education, and policy representation.
Scientific journal
The Astrophysical Journal
A major research journal associated with AAS publishing, covering astrophysics and related astronomical science. It serves as a formal channel for peer-reviewed research across observational, theoretical, computational, and instrumental areas of the field.
Scientific journal
The Astronomical Journal
A scholarly astronomy journal publishing research across the breadth of astronomical observation, interpretation, and related scientific methods. It is one of the society's established research-publication platforms.
Scientific journal
The Planetary Science Journal
A research journal focused on planetary science, including Solar System bodies, planetary formation and evolution, planetary atmospheres, and associated observational and theoretical work.
Scientific publication
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society
A society publication that communicates meeting material, community information, scientific announcements, and other items relevant to the professional astronomical community.
Scientific publication
Research Notes of the AAS
An online publication for brief astronomical communications. It provides a rapid channel for concise scientific notes and is distinguished from the society's conventional peer-reviewed research journals.
Online science publication
AAS Nova
An online publication presenting accessible highlights and summaries of research appearing in AAS journals, helping communicate new astronomical findings to a wider scientific and interested audience.
Astronomy magazine
Sky & Telescope
A well-known astronomy magazine serving amateur astronomers, observers, and astronomy enthusiasts. AAS announced in 2019 that it would become the publication's publisher, extending the society's communication activities toward the public and enthusiast community.
Professional recognition program · 2019
AAS Fellows
A recognition program honoring AAS members for significant achievement and extraordinary service to astronomy or to the society. It began in 2019 with an inaugural group of 232 Legacy Fellows.
Brand decisions
2025
Oppose ground-visible advertising from spaceStrategyBackground
Emerging commercial space activities raised concerns that advertising payloads visible from Earth could interfere with astronomical observation and alter the night sky.
Action taken
AAS issued a statement calling on nations to prohibit advertising in space that can be seen from the ground.
Aftermath
The statement positioned the society as an advocate for protecting the observational environment and addressing the effects of commercial space activity.
2020
Acquire selected Willmann-Bell assetsM&ABackground
Willmann-Bell was an established publisher of astronomy books, atlases, and software.
Action taken
AAS acquired Willmann-Bell's inventory, author contracts, and related assets.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened the society's publishing-related assets and supported continuity for selected astronomical titles and products.
2019
Take on publishing of Sky & TelescopeM&ABackground
AAS sought to extend its publishing and astronomy-communication role beyond research journals.
Action taken
The society announced that it would become the publisher of Sky & Telescope.
Aftermath
The move expanded AAS's reach into astronomy magazines and the amateur-astronomy community.
2018
Broaden membership categories and eligibilityStrategyBackground
The society reviewed its membership structure as astronomy became more interdisciplinary and as professional participation expanded beyond a single traditional educational pathway.
Action taken
AAS revised its membership classes, broadened eligibility to include master's-degree holders, and introduced or formalized affiliate categories for students, international participants, amateurs, and alumni.
Aftermath
The revised structure supported a wider membership and affiliation base, reported at approximately 8,200 people across categories by 2025.
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